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RichardB posted an update 1 year, 5 months ago
Back in 1966, while Ralph (Streets of London) McTell was earning his living busking on the streets of Paris, he met a Norwegian girl called Nanna Stein, and wrote a song for her, simply called Nanna’s Song, which is the most moving evocation I know of the joy of young love. By the end of that year they were married. They stayed together through the decades, while multiple children and grandchildren arrived, and all the while McTell never dropped her song from his repertoire. Last Sunday, 6th October, the 58-year romance came to an end when Nanna died.
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Sad to hear. 58 years is a long time, and in the world of arts and entertainment must be close to a miracle. I’ve always liked Ralph McTell, although Streets of London isn’t my favourite of his songs. I have a taste for some of the more “hippy folksy” stuff like Nettle Wine.
Oddly enough, when your post appeared, I was reading about the relationship between Leonard Cohen and Marriane Ihlen. Not so long-lived, but it seems they were in constant touch until her death.
Ah yes. From memory:
Fetching water from the brook
Wondering who it was who took
The stones from the mountain to build this cottage here
Two up and two down
Miles from the nearest town
I don’t know who he was though the reason why is clear.
McTell once said that the reason why there aren’t many love songs in his canon was that ‘I got all that stuff sorted out young [He was 22 in 1966] so I had to find other things to write about.’
They’re very different, but it reminds me of some of the old Incredible String Band stuff
Ath, listening to this, I was reminded of the songs of Andy Comley who comes from Southampton way and wondered whether you knew of him?
When you said the name it rang a bell, but after looking at his web site and listening to some songs, I don’t think I did know of him. Might have heard his name from my brother who is more seriously into folk music than me.
Edit: although listening to a couple more songs, he’s not actually that folksy, is he?
Sandra Davies
11:09 (0 minutes ago)
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My younger son lived in Southampton for a bit; one of his housemates took him along to gigs and I benefitted from 3 CDs, much played in the days I was working in my studio, liking the lyrics.
I liked Southampton. I lived there from Autumn 1977 to Summer 1985 and always felt at home in the town. Only left because of work.
Not in Southampton, but I’m lucky to have lived in the New Forest all my life, find it very inspirational.